Washing and sterilizing apparatus.



K. K. WRIGHT.

WASHING AND STERILIZING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FlLED 0cT.14, 1915.

1 ,265,41 3., A Patented May 7, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

K. K. WRIGHT. WASHING AND STERILIZING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED QCT.14 915- 1 265 41 39 Patented May 7, 1.918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- wil KIRK K. GET, 0]! BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-i=1 1 WRIGHT, 0F BUFFALO, NEW Y0 WASHING AND STERILIZING APP Specification of Letters Patent.

TUS.

Patented Mayt', 191%.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KIRK K. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Tm.- provement in Washing and Sterilizing A paratus, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for rinsing and bottles or analogous articles, and more particularly to apparatus of the kind in which the bottles are supplied to the apparatus in crates or cases, and in which the bottles are rinsed and sterilized while in the crates or cases.

The objects of the invention are to improve apparatus of this kind by providing means whereby the rinsing and sterilizing of the bottles is effected automatically so that it is not necessary for the'operator to manipulate any valve or analogous device for turning on and off or for regulating the flow of the rinsing and sterilizing medium to the bottles; also to provide an apparatus of this kind with means of improved construction which permit air to pass out of a container while water is admitted to the same and which is closed by steam pressure when steam is admitted to the container; also to improve the construction of apparatus in the respects hereinafter specified. I

In the accompanying drawings 2,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a rinsing and sterilizing apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof partly in ii ii f t 1 't din 1 1 isa-ra enary ongiu a sectionfi elevation iiliereof, on an enlarged scale, on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional elevations thereof on lines 4-4 and 55, respectively', Fig. 3. a

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary lo 'tudinal sew tional elevation showing the v ve-actuating mechanism of the apparatus.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on an enlarged scale of the steam vale.

A represents a frame of any suitable construction on which the several arts of the apparatus are supported. The ame shown is provided with a support or platform a on which the crates containing the bottles, or

-other articles, can he slid on rails or the like a. The platform is provided at one end with a reeeiw'ng portiona in which a crat or case B is supported while the bottles are being placed into the same, and this end of the machine is preferably arranged in operative relation to a washing machine or apparatus G of any desired kind, that shown comprising a tank 0 in which the bottles are soaked, and a revolving brush or other device 0" for washing the bottles. The operator takes the bottles from the'tank c, washes the same by means of the brush c and then places them into a crate on the receiving portion a of the platform of the apparatus.

When the crate B is filled with bottles it is placed, preferably in an inverted position, upon the platform a, a suitable supporting rack or frame 12' being preferably used to prevent the bottles from falling out of the crate. The crate is then slid along the rails a under a-housing or casing D mounted over a part of the platform a. This housing is open at opposite sides to permit the crate to be moved intothe same through one side and out of the same through the other side. The housing may be provided at its upper end with a discharge tube 05 for the vapor passing upwardly through the crate. A tank or reservoir E for rinsing water is mounted on the frame of the apparatus below the table a and underneath the housing D, and a spraying device F is mounted in the upper portion of the reservoir. This spraying device may be of any suitable construction, that'shown consisting of a hollow plate or member provided at 1ts upper end with discharge orifices or openings f. The water which 1s sprayed on the bottles drains downwardly into the reservoir E, passing through a strainer or-screen e arranged in the reseryoir below the spraying device. e' represents an outlet valve by means of which the water can be discharged from the reservoir E, and e represents a pipe through which steam for heating the water in the reservoir E is admitted. All of these parts may be of any usual or suitable construction and of themselves constitute no Part of this invention.

Rinsing water and steam are supplied to the spraying device F from a drum or other closed container G by means of a pipe 9 terminating at one end in the lower portion of the drum G and at its other end in the spraying device. The drum G is arranged below the level of the liquid in the reservoir E and, as shown, is arranged at one side of the reservoir and is connected therewith by means of a pipe or passage g containing a check valve 9 of any suitable construction (see Fig. 3) which permits the water to flow into the drum from the reservoir E and which prevents the flow of the water in the opposite direction. The drum is connected by means of a pipe 9 to a steam pipe 9 through which steam under pressure is admitted to the drum for forcing the water contained therein through the pipe 9 into the spraying device F. After the water has been forced out of the drum by the steam pressure, the steam passes through the pipe 9 into the spraying device and sterilizes the bottles in the crate.

The drum and its connections with the reservoir E and the spraying device may be of any suitable construction; or, if desired, other means for consecutively spraying two fluids on the bottles or other articles may be employed.

In order to cause the rinsing water and the-steam to be sprayed on the bottles in the crate without making it necessary for the operator to actuate a valve,. th'e following construction is preferably employed, by means of which steam under pressure is admitted into the drum Gr when a crate is placed upon the receiving end of the apparatus:

7 An arm or rod H is pivotally mounted at h on the frame of the apparatus and is connected by means of a link h with one arm of a lever I pivoted at z. The other arm of the lever engages a stem 70 of a valve K in the steam pipe 9. which controls the admission of steam to the drum G. The valve may be of any suitable construction and is normally heldclosed by means of a spring 7:, Fig. 7. The lever I and the rod H may be normally held in the positions which they occupy when the valve is open by means of a spring 71, and when a crate is placed on the receiving portion of the support, the'rod H is depressed against the action of the spring z" and causes the valve K to open and admit steam to the drum.

Means are provided to permit the air displaced in the drum G when the rinsing Water enters the same, to pass out of the drum. For this purpose a vent valve L is provided in a pipe Z which connects at one end with the drum and the other end of which is open to the atmosphere and preferably terminates in the tank E. The vent valve may be of any suitable construction, that shown comprising a disk or flap Z pivoted at its lower end on the valve housing and adapted to cooperate with a seat Z which is preferably inclined so that the valve'opens by gravity. When steam under pressure entersthe pipe Z the valve disk Z is forced to its seat by the pressure and is held there until the pressure is relieved by the closing of the steam valve K, after which the valve disk again swings on its pivot to its open position and permits the air displaced in the drum G by the incoming water to discharge. Other suitable means may be provided for permitting air to discharge from the drum G while the same is being filledwith water.

In the operation of the apparatus a crate containing bottles is taken from the receiving portion a of the apparatus and is inverted and placed under the housing D into operative relation over the spraying device.

The operator then takes another case and places the same upon the receiving portion a of the apparatus, the weight of the crate depressing the rod H and opening the valve K to admit steam under pressure into the drum G, and the pressure of the steam closing the vent valve L. The rinsing water which has entered the drum G is forced out of the drum through the pipe 9 by the steam pressure in the drum and is sprayed by this pressure at the bottles in the crate over the spraying device. The rinsing water is of such temperature and of such quantity as to raise the temperature of the bottles in the crate, so that when the rinsing water has been forced out of the drum G by the steam pressure and the steam itself passes through the pipe 9 and the spraying device to the bottles, the heat of the steam will not crack the bottles. The length of time required for the operator to wash sufficient bottles tofill the crate on the receiving portion a of the apparatus is suflicient-to permit the bottles to be thoroughly rinsed and sterilized, and when this crate is removed from the receiving portion a the valve K is closed and the vent valve L opens. The operator then removes the crate containing the bottles which have been sterilized and places the crate containing the bottles just washed over the spraying device. While this is being done, the drum G is filled with water from the reservoir E through the passage 9', the air or steam remaining in the drum passing out through the vent valve L.

- By means of the apparatus described, the time required for rinsin and sterilizing bottles is reduced since t e' manipulation of valves is eliminated. By the use of this apparatus, greater uniformity in the treatment of the bottles is also obtained, since thejudgment of the operator is not depended upon either in regard to the length of time during which the bottles should be subjected to the action of the rinsing water or the steam, thus insuring a thorough cleaning and sterilizing of all the bottles and preventing the breaking or cracking of the same, as would occur if they were not sufliciently heated by the i ceiving portion, and from which the articles are placed into the crate on said receiving portion, a support on which a crate may be placed for rinsing and sterilizing the articles contained in the crate, means for spraying water and steam at said articles on said support, means for controlling the flow of water and steam to said articles, and a connection between sald rece1v1ng portion and said controlling means, whereby water and steam are sprayed at said articles on said support while a crate rests on said recelvmg portion.

' 2. In an article washing and rinsing apparatus, the combination of a receiving portion for a crate of articles, a washing device a which is arranged in proximity to said receiving portion at one side thereof and from which the articles are placed into the crate on said receiving portion, a support arranged at the other side of said receiving portion on to which a crate may be moved from said receiving portion for rinslngand sterilizing the articles contained in the crate, means for spraying water and steam at said articles on said support, a valve for controlling the fiow ofwater and steam to said articles on said support, and a connection between said receiving portion and said valve,

said connection being actuated by a crate when on said receiving portion to cause water and steam to be sprayed at said articles on said support.

3. The combination of a support for articles to be cleansed comprising a portion on which an article is supported while being cleansed and a receiving portion for a second article which is to be cleansed, connections for supplying the cleansing medium to the first article, a valve for controlling the supply of cleansing medium to the first article, a movable rod located in the path of application of said second article to the receivin portion, and a connection between said 1'0 and said valve whereby said valve is opened when the second article engages said rod.

4. The combination of a support for articles to be cleansed comprising a portion on which an article is supported while being cleansed and a receiving portion for a second article which is to be cleansed, connecthe combination of means for supporting an article in position to be rinsed and sterilized, means for spraying water and steam on said article, a container for water connected with the spraying means, means for admitting steam to said container, means for admitting water to the container when the supply of steam to the container is cut oil, and a vent valve which opens automatically when the steam is shut oil? to permit water to enter the container and which is closed-by steam pressure when steam is admitted to the container, the steam when admitted to said container first forcing the water in the container to the spraying means and then passing to the spraying device.

6. In a rinsing and sterilizing apparatus,

the combination of means for supporting an article in position to be rinsed and sterilized, means for spraying water and steam on said article, a container for water connected with the spraying means, means for admitting steam to said container, means for admitting Water to the container when the supply of steam to the container is cut ofi, a vent valve which opens automatically when the steam is shut ed to permit water to enter the container and which is closed by steam pressure when steam is admitted to the container, the steam when admitted to said con tainer first forcing the water in the container to the spraying means and then passing to the spraying device, and a valve actuated by the weight of an article to be rinsed and sterilized to admit steam to said container.

7. lin a rinsing and sterilizing apparatus, the combination of a support for the articles to be sterilized comprising a receiving portion and a portion on which an article is supported while being rinsed and sterilized, means for spraying water and steam on anarticle for rinsing and sterilizing the same, a reservoir arranged below said support to receive the water draining from the article which is being rinsed and sterilized, a container for water to be sprayed arranged in position to receive water from said reservoir, means for preventing the flow of water from the container to the reservoir, means for admitting steam to said container, a vent valve which is open to the atmosphere to permit air which is displaced by is supported while being rinsed and steril-' incoming Water to be discharged from the container and which is closed when steam is admitted to the container, the steam when admitted to the container first forcing the water in the container to the spraying device and then passing to the. sprayin device, and means for controlling the admi sion of steam to said container.

8. In a rinsing and sterilizin apparatus, the combinationof a "support or the articles t'o be sterilized comprising a receiving portion and a portion on which an article ized, means for spraying water and steam on an article for rinsing and sterilizing the same, a reservoir arranged below said support to recelve the Water dralning from the article which is being rinsed and sterwith water and which is closed when steam 1s admitted to the container, the steam first forcing the water in the container to the spraylng device and then passing to the spraying device, and means for controlling the admission of steam to said passage.

9. In a rinsing and sterilizing apparatus, the combination of means for supporting the article to be rinsed and sterilized comprising a receiving portion and a portion on which an article is supported while being sterilized, means vfor spraying water and steam on said article, a container for water connected with the spraying means, means for admitting steam to said container, means for admitting water to the container when the supply of steam to the container is cut oil, a vent valve which opens automatically when the steam is shut ofl to permit water 4 to enter the container and which is closed by steam pressure when steam is admitted to the container, the steam when admitted to said container first forcing the water in the container to the spraying means and then passing to the spraying device, and a valve for controlling the supply of steam to the container, said valve being actuated by the placing of an article on the receiving portion of the apparatus.

Witness my hand, this 12th day of October, 1915.

KIRK K; WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

MILDRED J. PITMAN, F. E. PRooHNow. 

